Container filling machine



y 2, 1967 E. BRINKLEY ETAL. 3,316,945

CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 11, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet l #6 w/ I/5 H3 #3 //6 I [/6 H6- INVENTORS.

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y 2, 1957 E. BRINKLEY ETAL 3,3l6,945

CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 11, 1964 78 O iliil.

INVENTORS [51m am If GURU BY .a valve in the bottom thereof which UnitedStates PatentO 3,316,945 a CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Earl Brinkley and EGordon Young, Mount Prospect, 11]., assigno'rs to The Kartridg Pak Cm,Davenport, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Feb. 11, 1964, Ser. No.344,011 Claims. (Cl. 141-140) This invention relates to machines forfilling containers with liquid materials and is more particularlyconcerned with improvements in an automatic filling machine of therotary mul-ti-station type for sequentially filling containers with ameasured volume of liquid as the containers successively pass throughthe machine.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a rotarymulti-station container filling machine which operates automaticallyupon delivery of a succession of containers thereto to deliver apre-measured volume of liquid into each successive container as thecontainers move in a circular path beneath a plurality of peripherallyspaced, valve controlled measuring heads which are operated by elevatingthe containers into engagement with the heads.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide a rotarymulti-station filling machine for dispensing into successive containers.a pre-measured volume of liquid wherein a plurality of measuring cupsare mounted for vertical reciprocation in apertures in the bottom of acircular bowl or tank which is filled with a liquid to a predeterminedlevel, the cups being open at the top and being reciprocated, byengagement with the containers, be-

tween a cup filling position where the open top is below the level ofthe liquid in the bowl and a discharge position where the top of the cupis above the liquid level in the bowl and each cup having a dischargevalve in the bottom thereof which is operated to drain'the contents ofthe cup into the container which is in engagement therewith.

It is another object of the invention to provide a multistation rotarytype filling machine for dispensing liquid into a series of successivecontainers which are moved into position beneath a plurality ofmeasuringcups which are mounted in a rotating supply tank in which theliquid is maintained at a constant predetermined level and the cups arereciprocated between an immersed position below the level of the liquidin the tank and a container filling position where the opentop of thecup is above the level of the liquid inthe tank, with each cup having isopened, so as to drain the contents of the cup into a container, by asegmental circular ca-rn at the top of the tank which is engaged by acam follower on a valve lifting stem.

1 It is a further object of the invention toprovide an automatic liquidfilling apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted, upwardly opening,cylindrical tank having vertically disposed spaced Walls extending aboutthe periphery with the'inner wall being of lesserheight than the outerWall sothat a supply of liquid may be maintained at a constant level inthe tank with excess liquid spilling over the inner wall into acollecting receptacle, the tank having a plurality of measuring cupsmounted in spaced apertures in the bottom wall thereof which are eachvertically reciprocable between a cup filling position where the top ofthe cup is below the level of the liquid in the tank and a containerfilling position where the cup is elevated to bring the top above thelevel of the liquid in the "tank by engagingthe open top of a containerto be filled with the lower end of the cup and raising the container toa predetermined position, each cup having a valve opening in the bottomthereof and a ball valve which is supported on a vertically disposedstem which stem has a cam follower on its upper end for engagement witha fixed opmembers 15 are mounted. The platform aerosol-type containers.

19 on the top end of a supporting turret 13 and tothe pockets of the3,316,945 Patented May 2, 1967 erating cam positioned above the tank,the cam being arranged so that it is engaged by a cam follower only whenthere is a container positioned beneath thecup.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom a consideration of the machine which is shown by way ofillustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGUREI is a plan view of the filling machine which incorporates theprinciples of the invention, with portions of the machine being brokenaway;

FIGURE 2 isa partial vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1,to a larger scale;

FIGURE 3 is a partial vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1,to a still larger scale; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken on the line 4-4 ofFIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a liquid dispensingmachine which is particularlyadapted for use in connection with thefilling of liquid products into The apparatus is, however, not limitedto the filling of any particular type of container or to the dispensingof any particular liquid material.

The apparatus comprises a hollow base assembly 10 (FIGURES 1 and 2) ofgenerally cylindrical shape having a vertically disposed central hub 11on which there is rotatably mounted, by means of vertically spacedbearings :12 and 12, a ring-like platform support 13. The platformsupport 13 has 'an upwardly facing, horizontally disposed annularsurface 14 on which a'plurality of circumferentially spaced containerreceiving platform support support ring 13 also carries a bowl-likeliquid supply tank or reservoir 16 and associated valve assemblies 17disposed above the platform support members 15. The platform supportring 13 is provided with a ring gear 18 which is driven by a pinionvertical drive shaft 20. The drive shaft 20 is mounted in the bearingformation 21 in the base assembly 10 and at its lower end has a shearpin connection 22 with a motor 23 mounted on a bracket 24 within thebase 10. This provides a direct drive forrotating the turret-likesupport member 13.

The base assembly 10 supports at one side of the machine an infeed andoutfeed conveyor assembly 25 (FIGURE 1) for delivering the emptycontainers C to the platform support members 15 at the entry side of thefor removing them at the discharge side of the turretafter they traversethe circular path of the turret and receive a charge of liquid. The

conveyor assembly 25 comprises an endless belt, orchain carries thecontainers C from the conveyor run 26 across a horizontally disposedsupporting plate 28 to the platform supports 15. The star wheel 27 issupported on the upper end of a vertical shaft 29. A. helical containerspacing screw assembly 30 extends along the side of the conveyor run 26for spacing the containers for delivery star wheel 27. The conveyor run26 extends generally tangential to the path ofthe turret 13 andthefilled containers are delivered fromtheturret back to the same conveyorby a star Wheel 31 which is mounted on a vertically disposed shaft 32 onthe opposite side of a horizontally disposed edge or side guide number34. The guide member34 providesgtwo semicircular surfaces 35 'of thepath for the star wheels27 and adjustable inner section 37 which is and36 which form the outer periphery containers as they move around the 31.The guide member 34 has an pivotally mounted at 38 and which isadjustable by means of a rotating cam 39 for accommodating containers ofdifferent diameters so as to insure that they are properly positioned onthe platform members 15 When delivered thereto by the star wheel 27. Thestar wheel shafts 29 and 32 are supported in vertically disposed bearingformations and 41 on a side extension of the base assembly 10 and theseshafts carry at their lower ends sprockets 42 and 43 which are connectedby a chain 44 with a sprocket 45 on the main drive shaft 20. The chain44 also drives the sprocket 46 on a vertically disposed stub shaft 47and a tightener sprocket 48. The shaft 47 has a sprocket 49 which isconnected by a chain 50 with a sprocket 51 on the lower end of avertically disposed drive shaft 52. A right angle connector 53 at theupper end of the shaft 52 provides a driving connection with thecontainer spacing screw 30.

The platform members or assemblies 15 each comp-rise a horizontallydisposed container supporting plate 54 having a depending stem 55 whichis slidably mounted in one of a plurality of vertically disposed bearingforming bores 56 spaced about the outer margin of the turret member 13.The stems 55 each carry a cam follower roller 57 on the lower endthereof which cam follower 57 is adapted to ride on the track formed bythe top edge of a cylindrical platform cam 58. The cam 58 is mounted infixed position on the edge of the top face 59 of the base assembly 10. Aguide rod 60 depends from an inner end of each of the plates 54 and isreceived in sliding relation in a vertically disposed guide forming bore61 in the turret member 13.

The bowl or tank forming assembly 16 has a circular aperture 64 in thecenter and an outer liquid receiving annular trough 65 extending aboutthe peripheral margin which opens upwardly. The bowl assembly 16 isconnected to the turret forming support member 13 by a series ofdepending pins 66 which are received in sliding relation in hollowvertical posts 67, the latter projecting upwardly of the surface 14 ofthe turret member 13. The bowl or tank assembly 16 has an outer wall 68which rises a predetermined distance above the top edge 70 of an innerwall 71. An inwardly extending, downwardly inclined rim section 72extends from the inner wall edge 70 to the center opening 64 so thatwhen liquid in the trough 65 rises above the edge 70 of the inner wall71 it will spill over the edge 70 and down the inclined rim surface 72for discharge through the opening 64 into the top of a funnel-likecollecting member 73 which is supported on the top edge of a verticallydisposed tubular post 74. The post 74 extends upwardly from the base 13with its upper end received in the hub 11 and with its lower end closedby a plate 75 having secured on its inner face an upstanding nut-likemember 76 in which a supporting rod 77 is threadedly received. The rod77 is adapted to be rotated to raise and lower the post 74 so as toadjust the upper edge of the funnel member 73 relative to the lower edgeof the flange 72 of the bowl assembly 16. The support rod '77 issupported at its lower end in a bearing box 78 and has a gear connectionwith a linkage 79 extending to the wall of the base assembly 10 andreceiving a handle 80 for manually rotating the same so as to turn thesupport rod 77 and raise and lower the post 74. The funnel member 73 hasa discharge opening 81 at the bottom end thereof to which a dischargehose '82 is connected for draining off the liquid which spills over intothe funnel member 73 and returning it to the liquid supply. A top covermember 83 is provided for the assembly 16 which has a depending hub-likesleeve forming section 84 at the center for mounting the same on theupper post forming portion 85 of a supporting bracket 86. The bracket 86has a plurality of outwardly and downwardly inclined legs 87 with thelower ends thereof seated on a shelf forming flange 88 defining acylindrical section 89 at the lower center of the funnel member 73. Thecover member 83 has a series of removable sections 90 providing readyaccess to the inside of the bowl assembly 16. The post forming portion85 of the bracket 86 is hollow and accommodates a conduit 91 throughwhich fluid is delivered to the trough 65 in the bowl assembly 16.

The bowl assembly 16 is provided around its periphery with a series ofmeasuring cup and valve assemblies 17 each of which comprises acylindrical cup member 92 having an open upper end and a plug-likemember 93 in the lower end. The plug forming member 93 constitutes apart of a cap assembly 95 which is provided with a pair of oppositelydisposed, radially extending protuberances 96 each having a verticalbore 97 for receiving a guide forming pin 98. The guide pins 98 dependfrom the bottom wall 100 of the assembly *16. The cup 92 is mounted forvertical movement within a sleeve 101 which is fixed in an aperture 102in the bottom wall 100. A bellows forming member 103 has its lower edgeclamped in the aperture 102 by the sleeve 101. The upper edge of thebellows 103 is secured about the top margin of the cup 92. The bellowsmember 103 may lbfi formed of any suitable material which is resistantto the liquids with which the apparatus is employed and which is adaptedto form an impervious, expansible shield between the top edge of the cup92 and the bottom wall of the trough so that the cup 92 may be raisedand lowered without liquid escaping through the aperture 102. The plugmember 93 at the lower end of the cup 92 is provided with an axiallyextending discharge opening 104 terminating at a valve seat formation105 for a ball valve 106 which is mounted on the bottom end of avertically disposed rod 107. The rod 107 extends upwardly through anaperture 108 provided in the top wall forming member 83 and carries onits upper end a block M0 on which a cam follower roller 111 is mounted.The block is provided with an aperture 112 for receiving a verticallydisposed guide rod 113 which extends upwardly of the top surface of thecover member 83 and which carries a compression spring 114 for limitingthe upward movement of the block 1 10. The cam follower roller 111 isadapted to ride on the track forming top edge 115 of a cylindrical platecam 115 which is mounted on the upper end of the bracket 86. When thecam roller 111 is engaged with the cam plate 115 the ball valve member106 is raised so as to open the discharge passageway 104 at the bottomof the measuring cup 92. When the cup assembly is not raised the camroller 111 passes beneath the cam plate i115 and there is no valveoperation so that the contents of the cup is not discharged. The valverod 107 is provided with a sleeve member 116 which encompasses an upperportion of the rod 107 and has a threaded connection with the same sothat rotation of the sleeve 116 moves the same axially on the rod 107 orraises and lowers the same thereon. The sleeve 116 functions as a fineadjustment for varying the volume of liquid which is tredeived in thecup 92 when it is lowered to bring the upper edge below the level of theliquid in the trough 65. Preferably, removable inserts 117 are providedfor the cup 92 so as to permit the volume of the cup to be adjusted byinsertion or removal of the inserts 117, the latter, of course, beingcylindrical in shape and permitting discharge of the liquid through theaxial passageway 1-18 therein when the rod 107 is raised to open thevalve 104.

The cam track forming plate member 115 at the top of the machine extendscircumferentially of the turret from a point just beyond the entry pointof the containers from the star wheel 27 to a point short of where thecontainers are removed by the star wheel 31. The upper edge 1.15 of thecam plate 115 is at a level'sufficient to raise the valve lball 106 foropening the valve after the valve assembly has been elevated by upwardmovement of the platform member 15 and engagement of the mouth of thecontainer C with the plug member 93 or cap 95, so as to empty thecontents of the cup 92 into the container C while all the elements arein the raised position.

In using the apparatus, liquid is supplied to the trough 65 through theconduit 91 so as to fill it level with the upper edge 70 of the innerwall 71 and to maintain it in form members 15 are raised and thecontainer C beneath the same.

assembly 117 to its lowermost the inner wall having a lesser mittingexcess liquid to spill over into of the receptacle, a receptacle beneaththe center opening filled Condition With the excess spilling over theedge 70 and into the drainage cup or funnel 73 from which it is returnedto the supply line. The containers C are delivered successively to theplatform members 15 by operationof thestar wheel 27 and each containeris positioned under a valve assembly 17, the latter being alignedvertically above the platform members 15. As the turret member 13advances, the successive platform members 15 are raised by engagement ofthe cam rollers 57 with the platform cam 58. Raising the platform member15 moves the container C upwardly to engage the open mouth thereofbeneath the plug forming bottom end :member. 93 of the valve assembly17. The valve assernbly 17 is normally held with the 92 belowthe levelof the liquid in the cup 92 is normally filled with top edge of the cupthe trough 65 so that liquid. As the platcontainers C are elevated so asto elevate the valve assembly 17, the top edge of the cup 92 moves to aposition above the level of the liquid inthe trough 65 which results ina metered amount of the liquid being trapped in the cup 92. As theturret 13 rotates the cam follower 111 engages on the top surface 115'of the cam ring 115 and the valve ball 106 is lifted to allow theliquidin the cup to discharge into the As the container C is moved around theturret and approaches the star wheel 31 for discharge from the platformmember 15 the cam follower 111 moves off of the end of the cam track 115and drops the valve bal-l 106 to close the passageway 104. The platformmember 15 is then lowered by the configuration of the cam ring 58 so asto drop the valve position where the top edge of the cup 92 is below thelevel of the liquid in the trough 65 and the cup 92 is refilled for thenext dispensing operation. The platform member 15 has sufiicientmovement relative to the bottom end of the Valve assembly 17 to releasethe container C for removal from the turret by the star wheel 31 whenthe platform member 15 is lowered to its bottom position.

While particular materials and specific details of construction arereferred to in describing the illustrated form ,of the apparatus, itwill be understood that other materials and, different structuraldetails may be employed within the spirit of the invention. We claim:

' 1. A machine for filling containers with a measured amount ofai-liquid material, said machine comprising a flhorizontally disposedsupply receptacle mounted for which receptacle is in the rotation abouta vertical axis, form of a circular-tray with an upwardly openingannular trough defined byinner and outer walls of unequal height, heightthan the outer wall and the receptacle having acenter aperture, meansfor of the li uid at the height of the inner wall and perthe centeropening for receiving the excess 'liquid, a plurality of liquid meas--.supplying liquid to the trough so as to maintain the level it uringand dispensing valve assemblies mounted in peripher-ally spaced relationin the annular trough, each of said measuring and dispensing valveassemblies comprising a cylindrical measuring cup disposed in slidingrelation in a vertically extending bottom opening in the trough, eachsaid cup being open at the top and having a bottom cap disposed beneaththe trough with a central axially extending discharge passageway and aball valve for opening and closing the passageway, the valve ball beingcarried on the lower end of a vertically extending rod, an extensiblebellows-type seal between the top oflthe cup and theibottom opening inthe trough so as to close off thelatter and prevent escape of liquidthrough the bottom opening, a series of containersupporting platformsaligned beneath the measuring and dispensing valve assemblies, means fordelivering containers to be filled to the platform, means for raising,spillover the inside lip means for raising and lowering the platformsto engage the tops of the containers with the lower ends of saidassemblies and to raise said assemblies so as to move the open tops ofthe cups from a position below the level of the liquid in the trough toan elevated position above the level of the liquid in the trough, acircular cam and cam followers on the valve carrying rods for raisingthe valve carrying rods to open the valves for discharge of the contentsof the measuring cups when the measuring cups have been raised to aposition where the tops thereof are above the level of the liquid in thetrough and a predetermined quantity of the liquid is trapped in each ofthe cups.

2. A container filling machine which comprises a turret including aliquid supply bowl having an annular trough with an inside lip which islower than the outside wall thereof and a center opening into whichliquid will spill over the inside lip when the trough is filled tooverflowing, said bowl having a plurality of openings in the bottom of,the trough and a plurality of measuring and dispensing assembliesmounted in sliding relation in said openings, each of said assembliescomprising a cylindrical measuring cup having an open top and a cappedbottom with the bottom protruding through the bottom of the bowl, aflexible bellows-type seal in the trough which extends between the topof the cup and the opening in the bottom of the trough ,for preventingthe passage of liquid therethrough, an axial discharge passageway in thecap on the bottom of the cup which terminates at a ball valve seat, avalve ball mounted on an axially extending rod which is supported forvertical movement in the cup, container supporting platforms alignedbelow each of said measuring and dispensing assemblies and cam means,for raising and lowering the platforms, a conveyor for deliveringcontainers to be filled to the turret and for taking the filledcontainers away, star wheels for transferring the containers from theconveyor to the turret and from the turret to the conveyor, andco-operating cam members disposed circumferentially on the bowl and onthe valve rods for raising and lowering the valve balls so as to openand close the bottom discharge passageways in the cups.

3. A container filling machine which comprises a turret including aliquid supply bowl having an annular trough with an inside lip which islower than the outside wall thereof and a center opening into whichliquid will when the trough is filled to overflowing, said trough havinga plurality of circumferentially spaced openings inthe bottom thereof,measuring and dispensing valve assemblies mounted in sliding relation insaid openings, each of said assemblies comprising a cylindircalmeasuring cup disposed in an opening with an open top and a cappedbottom protruding through the bottom of the bowl, a flexiblebellows-type seal in the trough between the top of the cup and theopening in the bottom of the trough for preventing the passage of liquidtherethrough, while permitting vertical movement of the cup, a dischargepassageway in the cap at -the bottom of the cup which terminates at aball valve seat, a valve ball mounted on a rod which is supported forvertical movement in the cu a container supporting platform alignedbelow each of the assemblies andcam the platform, means for deliveringcontainers to be filled beneath said assemblies on the turret and fortaking the filled containers away, and cam means including a fixed camtrack and coopen and close the valves in the 4. A container fillingmachine which comprises a liquid supply bowl having an annular troughwith an inside wall having a top edge which is lower than the outsidewall thereof and a center opening into which liquid will spill over thetop edge of the inside wall when the trough is filled to overflowing,said trough having a plurality of openings in the bottom thereof,measuring and dispensing valve assemblies mounted in said openings, eachof said assemblies comprising a cylindrical measuring cup disposed forvertical movement in an opening with an open top and a capped bottomwhich extends below the bottom of the bowl, a flexible seal in thetrough between the top of the cup and the opening in the bottom of thetrough for preventing the passage of liquid therethrough whilepermitting vertical movement of the cup, a discharge passageway in thebottom of the cup which terminates at a ball valve seat, a valve ballmounted on a vertically extending rod which is slidably supported in thecup, a container supporting platform aligned below each said assemblyand cam means for raising and lowering the platforms, means fordelivering containers to be filled onto the platforms and for taking thefilled containers away, a circular cam mounted above the supply bowl anda cam follower on each valve rod .for raising and lowering the same toopen and close the discharge passageway in the cup.

5. A machine for filling containers with a measured amount of a liquidmaterial, said machine comprising a horizontally disposed supplyreceptacle which is in the form of a circular tray with an upwardlyopening annular trough defined by inner and outer walls, the inner wallhaving a lesser height than the outer wall and the bowl having a centeraperture, means for supplying liquid to the trough so as to maintain thelevel of the liquid at the height of the inner wall and permittingexcess liquid to spill over into said center aperture, a funnel-likereceptacle beneath said center aperture for receiving the excess liquidand having connection with said liquid supply means for returning excessliquid thereto, liquid measuring and dispensing valve assemblies mountedin peripherally spaced relation in said annular trough, said troughhaving circumferentially spaced bottom openings, said assemblies eachcomprising a cylindrical measuring cup disposed in vertically extendingsliding relation in a bottom opening in the trough, each said cup beingopen at the top and having a bottom closure projecting beneath thetrough with a central axially extending discharge passageway and a valvefor opening and closing the passageway, the valve being mounted on thelower end of a vertically extending rod, an extensible bellows-type sealwithin the trough and extending between the top of the cup and theopening in the bottom of the trough so as to close off the opening andprevent escape of liquid through said opening while permittingreciprocal movement of said cup, container supporting platforms alignedbeneath said assemblies, means for delivering containers to be filled tothe platforms, means for raising the platforms to engage the tops of thecontainers with the bottom closures on the lower ends of said assembliesand to raise said assemblies so as to move the open tops of themeasuring cups from a position below the level of the liquid in thetrough to an elevated position above the level of the liquid in thetrough, a cam ring and co-operating cam members on the valve rods forraising the valve rods to open the valves for discharge of the trappedcontents of the measuring cups when the measuring cups have been raisedto said elevated position.

6. A machine as recited in claim 5, and removable inserts adapted to beseated in the bottom of the cups for varying the volume of the liquidtrapped in the measuring cups when the cups are raised from a loweredposition so as to move the open tops above the level of the liquid inthe supply receptacle, said inserts having a center passageway alignedwith said cup discharge passageway for accommodating the valve rod andfor discharge of the liquid therethrough.

7. A machine as recited in claim 6, and a sleeve mounted for axialadjustment on the upper portion of each valve rod so that the bottom endof the sleeve may be positioned in the cup and thereby provide a fineadjustment of the volume of liquid trapped in the cup when it is raisedso as to move the open top above the level of the liquid in the supplyreceptacle.

8. A machine for filling successive containers with a measured amount ofa liquid material, said machine comprising a rotatably mounted,horizontally disposed liquid supply bowl which is in the form of acircular tray with an upwardly opening annular trough, means forsupplying liquid to the trough so as to maintain a quantity of theliquid in the trough at a predetermined constant level, said bowl havinga plurality of openings in peripherally spaced relation in the bottom ofsaid annular trough, liquid measuring and dispensing assemblies mountedin said openings, each of said assemblies comprising a cylindricalmeasuring cup disposed in vertically extending, slidable relation in andhaving the bottom portion thereof extending through the bottom openingin the trough, each said measuring cup being open at the top and havinga bottom forming dispensing valve assembly at the lower end thereofwhich has a central axially extending discharge passageway and a valveball for opening and closing the pasageway, a vertically extending rodon the lower end of which the valve ball is mounted, an extensiblecylindrical bellows seal extending within the trough between the top ofeach measuring cup and the opening in the bottom of the trough in whichthe measuring cup is slidably disposed so as to close off the latter andprevent escape of liquid through said bottom opening while permittingvertical movement of the cup to a position where the top of the cup isabove the level of the liquid in the trough, container supportingplatforms aligned beneath the said measuring and dispensing assemblies,means supporting said platforms for rotation with said supply bowl,means for delivering containers to be filled in upright position ontothe platform, means for raising the platforms a distance suflicient toengage the tops of the containers with the lower ends of said assembliesand to raise said assemblies so as to lift the open tops of the cupsfrom a position below the level of the liquid in the trough to anelevated position above the level of the liquid in the trough therebytrapping a measured amount of the liquid in each of the cups, and cammeans cooperating with said valve rods for raising the ball valve rrodsindependently of the cup movement once a cup is in elevated positionthereby to open the discharge passageway and discharge the trappedliquid in the measuring cups into the containers while the cups are insaid elevated position.

9. A machine for filling containers with a measured quantity of a liquidmaterial, which machine comprises a horizontally disposed liquid supplybowl with an upwardly opening, annular trough for receiving a supply ofthe liquid, means for supplying liquid to the trough so as to maintainthe level of the liquid at a predetermined constant height, measuringand dispensing assemblies mounted in peripherally spaced relation in thetrough, each of said assemblies comprising a vertically disposedcylindrical measuring cup member having a top opening and a bottomforming valve assembly with an axially extending discharge passagewayand an associated valve member in said passageway which is adapted to beraised to open said passageway, said cup member being mounted forvertical movement in a vertically extending bore in the bottom of theannular trough between a lowered position where the top of the cupmember is below the level of the liquid with the bottom of the cupmember extending below the trough and a raised position where the top ofthe cup member is above the level of the liquid so as to trap in the cupmember a measured quantity of the liquid when the cup member is raised,container supporting members below the cup members, means for deliveringopen top containers to be filled to said container supporting members,means for raising the container supporting members so asto engage thetops of the containers with the bottom ends of said assemblies and toraise the assemblies a distance sufficient to bring the top openings ofthe measuring cup members above the level of the liquid in the trough,and cam means operative upon predetermined upward movement of themeasuring cup members for raising the associated valve members in themeasuring cup members independently of cup movement while the measuringcup members are in raised position thereby to 'discharge the liquidtrapped in the measuring cup members into the containers.

10. A machine as recited in claim 9, and an extensible cylindricalbellows sealing means extending between the top portion of eachmeasuring cup and the bore in the bottom of the trough in which themeasuring cup is mounted for preventing leakage of liquid materialthrough the bores.

1 0 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGNPATENTS 4/1929 France.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. E. J. EARLS, Assistant Examiner.

3. A CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE WHICH COMPRISES A TURRET INCLUDING ALIQUID SUPPLY BOWL HAVING AN ANNULAR TROUGH WITH AN INSIDE LIP WHICH ISLOWER THAN THE OUTSIDE WALL THEREOF AND A CENTER OPENING INTO WHICHLIQUID WILL SPILL OVER THE INSIDE LIP WHEN THE TROUGH IS FILLED TOOVERFLOWING, SAID TROUGH HAVING A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACEDOPENINGS IN THE BOTTOM THEREOF, MEASURING AND DISPENSING VALVEASSEMBLIES MOUNTED IN SLIDING RELATION IN SAID OPENINGS, EACH OF SAIDASSEMBLIES COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL MEASURING CUP DISPOSED IN AN OPENINGWITH AN OPEN TOP AND A CAPPED BOTTOM PROTRUDING THROUGH THE BOTTOM OFTHE BOWL, A FLEXIBLE BELLOWS-TYPE SEAL IN THE TROUGH BETWEEN THE TOP OFTHE CUP AND THE OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TROUGH FOR PREVENTING THEPASSAGE OF LIQUID THERETHROUGH, WHILE PERMITTING VERTICAL MOVEMENT OFTHE CUP, A DISCHARGE PASSAGEWAY IN THE CAP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CUPWHICH TERMINATES AT A BALL VALVE SEAT, A VALVE BALL MOUNTED ON A RODWHICH IS SUPPORTED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT IN THE CUP, A CONTAINERSUPPORTING PLATFORM ALIGNED BELOW EACH OF THE ASSEMBLIES AND CAM MEANSFOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE PLATFORM, MEANS FOR DELIVERING CONTAINERSTO BE FILLED BENEATH SAID ASSEMBLIES ON THE TURRET AND FOR TAKING THEFILLED CONTAINERS AWAY, AND CAM MEANS INCLUDING A FIXED CAM TRACK ANDCOOPERATING CAM FOLLOWERS ON THE VALVE RODS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THESAME TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE VALVES IN THE CUPS.